• The rogue's lips curled into a sinister smile as she sized up three so-called guards that blocked the road before her. These men, all clad in old and dilapidated leather armor, advanced in slowly on the rogue. They wore the mask of a blood thirsty killer, but the rogue could feel the fear and anxiety radiate off their bodies. They knew what they were about to get into. They knew if they dared challenge her, it would be their blood spilt that night.


    The rogue sighed and shook her head. "Now, now. . . Isn't this a tad brutal? Three against one?"

    Just as the words left her lips, four more soldiers stepped out of the darkness of the forest. She was completely surrounded.

    "And all because of one tiny 'accident'? Come now, this doesn't have to end with violence." The rogue chuckled, then. "Think of your precious families. How would they react if they found out their husbands and fathers were found dead? How would they survive?"


    Still they came. They acted as if immune to the rogue's cold words.


    This, of course, did not bother the rogue. This is what she wanted.


    She pressed on. "Next time, I'll make sure they won't squeal like a pig. I do have ways of preventing that, you know." She narrowed her eyes at one of the older guards, a pale gray Dark Elf with an obsidian colored mane. He was trembling. Sweat trinkled off his brow. "Next time, I'll just slit the throat. Care for a demonstration, sir? I would so love to show you."


    "Enough, Sanguis!"


    The rogue, Sanguis, rolled her eyes as Elder Kirin approached her. She spun around and faced the old man.


    Kirin's face was hidden beneath his scarlet cowl, but Sanguis could feel his icy stare. Magicka was thick in the air while he was present. It made Sanguis slightly dizzy, but she remained standing tall. Showing any sign of weakness would be her downfall, especially around Elder Kirin.


    "So you release your hounds and suddenly call them back?" Sanguis snorted. "Having second thoughts, Kirin?"


    The area fell silent. Even the wildlife of the Great Forest fell silent as the Elder opened his mouth to speak. "Sanguis," The silver hairs stood up on the back of Sanguis' neck. She clutched her hands into fists. She had to fight it, that intoxicating power. "Oh, Sanguis; what have you gotten yourself into?"


    "If you think I'm going to break down and beg for forgiveness, you're wrong!" Sanguis snarled, baring her teeth at Kirin. "I did what I was told to do. He said--"


    "Who, Sanguis? Who?"


    Sanguis knew this was coming. In truth, she did not know the voice that haunted her dreams. It was that smooth, sultry voice that plucked at her heartstrings and made her blood sing, as well as spill the blood of whoever the voice wanted dead. She did it without hesitation, and she enjoyed every second of the hunt.


    Her crimson eyes locked onto Kirin. "A phantom, perhaps. I don't know. I have never seen His face, but He is there. He is here now, you know, whispering in my ear. You want to know what He is saying, Kirin?"


    Pause. Silence.


    Sanguis laughed. "'Kill Kirin, my child. Rip out his heart. Bathe in his blood. . .' Shall I continue?"


    There were whispers amongst the circle of men. Theories and rumors, all of which amused Sanguis. Kirin remained in place, keeping his calm and proud stature. "You are mad, Sanguis." He said steadily. "This must come to an end!"


    Sanguis exhaled noisily. "By whom made you the judge of what is sane or insane, dearest Elder? You are not as blessed as you believe. I am the only one here who is fully aware of your charade. You cannot see into my soul, nor can you read my mind. You're just like that old s'wit right there--" She pointed her finger to the pale Dark Elf. "Feeble and senile. You are only worshipped by these fools like a god because of a few cheap parlor tricks. Are you not aware of the other mages that populate this land? I bet most of them could turn you into a pile of ash before--UGH!"


    Sanguis dropped to her knees, and covered her wounded left eye. Blood seeped through the crevices between her fingers, and soaked into her black leather gloves.


    One of the younger guards, a Dark Elven boy, stood before her. Unlike the others, he was dressed in gray robes and kept his auburn hair tied back. His name was Sylph, and he was Kirin's son and successor.


    Sanguis growled at Sylph. "You b*****d. . . Had to come to Daddy's rescue, did you? I will enjoy killing you."


    Sylph scoffed, and Sanguis cried out as more shards of ice cut into her. She fell back onto the cold stone road, unable to move. Sylph had paralyzed her.


    Sylph drew his silver dagger and moved in for the kill. Kirin grabbed his son by the shoulder, stopping him. "This will make you no better than she," He whispered.


    Sylph didn't take his eyes off Sanguis. "She killed our friends in cold blood, Father. She dies."


    Sanguis forced herself to laugh. "Then hurry before the suspense kills me!" She spat. She could taste the blood oozing into her mouth. The feeling of the warm liquid cascading down her face was foriegn. Her heart pounded heavily inside her chest, each thump! louder than the last. And yet, she remained calm. He was there.


    Am I going to die?

    "We all die at one point, my dear. But tonight is not your end." Replied the voice.


    How can you be so sure? Heh, you're not the one pinned down to the ground with a mutilated eye and holes all over your body.


    "Your Brothers are on their way, child. You are safe."


    Brothers?


    No answer.


    Oh, please! Don't leave me!


    Silence.


    Fear gripped the heart of Sanguis. The voice had forsaken her. She didn't want to die--not alone.


    ". . . Tonight is not your end."


    Sanguis could hear Sylph's approaching footsteps. She tried to struggle against her invisible bonds, but it was useless. She was still paralyzed.


    This was it. She was going to die.


    Suddenly, there was a sharp gasp and followed by a heavy thud. Someone had fallen.


    "What the--" Sanguis heard Sylph say. The footsteps stopped. "Alvar?! What in Talos' name--"


    There was another thud.


    "Cael?! Men, look out! We are not alone. . ."


    ". . . Your Brothers are on their way, child. You are safe."


    "FATHER!!!" Sylph shrieked.

    Sanguis smiled as she heard steel pierce flesh and the old man's pathetic cry as he died. When his body slumped to the ground, she couldn't help it. Sanguis burst out into a fit of laughter.

    Sylph roared and charged at Sanguis.

    He loomed over Sanguis. His eyes burned with a murderous rage as he glared down at her. He raised his dagger over his head, ready to sink it into Sanguis' heart. "Oblivion take you!" He snarled between gritted teeth.

    "And Sithis take you!" An unknown voice hissed from the shadows.

    Sylph gasped and stepped back from Sanguis as three arrows pierced his flesh. The dagger fell from his hand and landed next to Sanguis. He groaned,and sunk to the ground. "The Dark Brotherhood. . ." He managed to say between breaths. "I-I should've. . . known. . ."

    Four figures dressed in black leather raiments and sanguine cowls stood around Sylph and Sanguis. A fifth, a man in black robes, appeared behind Sanguis. "How cliched of you, Sylph." The robed man said. "How foolish of me to expect more from an imbecile such as yourself."


    The others chuckled. Sylph growled. "The Legion. . . will know you are behind this. They will hunt you down. . . They. . . They will. . ."


    Finally free of her paralysis, Sanguis took up Sylph's dagger and quickly drove it deep into his throat. "Just shut up!"

    Sylph gaped and gurgled as he fell back. Sanguis didn't even bother taking back the dagger. She took a deep breath, relieved that the struggle was finally over. She laid back down and quietly thanked the voice that had saved her.


    "You poor child. . ." The robed man whispered as he looked down at Sanguis. "Look at what they have done to you."

    That's right. . . Sylph had severely damaged her eye, and there were still shards of ice stuck in her gut. The pain suddenly overwhelmed her. The thought of finally being safe made her drop her defenses. Sanguis moaned and her head fell to the side. Everything around her became a crimson blur.

    "We must bring her back to the sanctuary. We don't have much time." The robed man shouted to the others. He knelt down and brushed the silver strands of hair that clung onto Sanguis' sweaty brow away. "You're new family will take care of you, dearest one." He said softly, comforting Sanguis. "You are safe now."

    But Sanguis didn't hear him. She could only hear the beating of her heart as everything faded to black.



    To be continued. . .